Gollum in the new Lord of the Rings game has more hair than in the movies to make him "less creepy" Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Gollum in the new Lord of the Rings game has more hair than in the movies to make him "less creepy" Middle parting. News by Emma Kent Contributor Updated on 24 Aug 2020 49 comments Following the release of some... interesting screenshots back in May, today we're finally getting a look at the first trailer for Lord of the Rings: Gollum, the upcoming title from Daedalic Entertainment. Oh, and also a little more about the design decisions behind those screenshots - including why Gollum looks like he's sporting a quarantine haircut. The teaser doesn't give a whole lot away, other than plenty of shots of Gollum scurrying around in a cave, but we do have a couple of tidbits of new information. As many predicted from the screenshots, the game will feature a fair bit of stealth, along with some vertical climbing parkour. "If you want a reference you might think of it as similar to Prince of Persia," lead game designer Martin Wilkes told IGN. "It is mostly a non-combat game, but Gollum will be able to stealthily take out enemies." That means scrabbling around for scavenged items, environmental hazards and finding "special allies" with useful abilities, apparently. Beyond the stealth gameplay, Gollum focuses on story decisions and dialogue choices, with narrative designer Tilman Schanen confirming it has a branching narrative. "The decisions you make affect the way the game feels... you always either play as Sméagol or as Gollum as the 'dominant' persona and that can influence animations, soundscapes, certain gameplay situations, and in-game dialogue," he added. The game uses a "sort-of" morality system which Schanen says is more nuanced than merely good and evil. Ultimately, Daedalic is sticking fairly faithfully to Tolkien's work, and thus Gollum's fate ultimately ends up in-line with the books. The player's decisions can affect the wider world, however, such as impacting the lives of NPCs. But now for the real question: what is going on with Gollum's hair? As Daedalic's work is based on the books rather than the films, some fans have expressed bemusement at the more wide-eyed and hairy take on the character - but art director Mathias Fischer explained the reason behind this. "With Gollum himself, our goal is to make him more relatable, as players have to be able to slip into his skin for the course of an entire game," Fischer explained. "That's why our Gollum looks less creepy (and has more hair) than the movie version." Sure. As for the game's structure, you can expect a series of levels and hubs, with a mixture of open levels and more linear missions where players are presented with a choice of alternative routes. I'm not sure what to make of it all, but I'm definitely intrigued - and am looking forward to admiring Gollum's new haircut when the game releases sometime in 2021. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 59 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 4 Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 11 Latest Articles Preview Football Manager's new Console edition is the best you'll get without a PC Getting Touch-right. Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 59 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 4 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store